U.S. patent application number 16/294249 was filed with the patent office on 2019-09-12 for hybrid windshield wiper blade.
This patent application is currently assigned to ALBEREE PRODUCTS, INC.. The applicant listed for this patent is ALBEREE PRODUCTS, INC.. Invention is credited to Franz Johannes Buechele, Albert LEE.
Application Number | 20190275989 16/294249 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 67843038 |
Filed Date | 2019-09-12 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190275989 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LEE; Albert ; et
al. |
September 12, 2019 |
HYBRID WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADE
Abstract
A wiper blade including multiple frame components hingedly
connected to one another and at least two joint springs applying
elastic force to respective frame components, the wiper blade
accommodating a changing curvature of a surface of a
windshield.
Inventors: |
LEE; Albert; (Baltimore,
MD) ; Buechele; Franz Johannes; (Maryville,
TN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
ALBEREE PRODUCTS, INC. |
Halethorpe |
MD |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
ALBEREE PRODUCTS, INC.
Halethorpe
MD
|
Family ID: |
67843038 |
Appl. No.: |
16/294249 |
Filed: |
March 6, 2019 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62640422 |
Mar 8, 2018 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60S 1/38 20130101; B60S
1/3887 20130101; B60S 2001/3813 20130101; B60S 1/3801 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B60S 1/38 20060101
B60S001/38 |
Claims
1. A wiper blade, comprising: a primary member having an interior
surface formed therein; and at least one secondary member, each
secondary member being connected to a respective end of the primary
member, wherein the interior surface of the primary member is
provided with at least one protrusion, wherein each secondary
member includes at least one arm, each arm of each secondary member
having a recess, and wherein the recess of each arm of each
secondary member engages a respective protrusion of the primary
member.
2. The wiper blade of claim 1, wherein the at least one secondary
member includes two secondary members, a first secondary member
being connected to a first end of the primary member and a second
secondary member being connected to a second end of the primary
member.
3. The wiper blade of claim 2, wherein the first and second
secondary members are hingedly connected to the primary member to
move relative to the primary member to accommodate a changing
curvature of a surface of a windshield.
4. The wiper blade of claim 2, further comprising at least two
joint springs, wherein a first joint spring extends from the
primary member to the first secondary member and a second joint
spring extends from the primary member to the second secondary
member.
5. The wiper blade of claim 4, wherein the primary member and each
secondary member are provided with respective wedge members, and
wherein the first joint spring is kept in place by the respective
wedge members of the primary member and the respective secondary
member.
6. The wiper blade of claim 2, further comprising first and second
tertiary members, each tertiary member being hingedly connected to
a respective one of the first and second secondary members.
7. The wiper blade of claim 6, wherein an interior surface of each
secondary member is provided with at least one protrusion, wherein
each tertiary member includes at least one arm, each arm of each
tertiary member having a recess, and wherein the recess of each arm
of each tertiary member engages a respective protrusion of the
respective secondary member.
8. The wiper blade of claim 7, further comprising four joint
springs, wherein a first joint spring extends from the primary
member to the first secondary member and a second joint spring
extends from the primary member to the second secondary member, a
third joint spring extends from the first secondary member to the
first tertiary member, and a fourth joint spring extends from the
second secondary member to the second tertiary member.
9. The wiper blade of claim 8, wherein the primary member, each
secondary member and each tertiary member are provided with
respective wedge members, wherein the first and second joint
springs are kept in place by the respective wedge members of the
respective primary member and the respective secondary member, and
wherein the third and fourth joint springs are kept in place by the
respective wedge members of the respective secondary member and the
respective tertiary member.
10. The wiper blade of claim 1, further comprising at least one
claw member provided on a lower surface of the primary member and
at least one claw member provided on a lower surface of each
secondary member, wherein each claw member receives a wiping
element support track, and wherein a wiping element is attached to
the wiping element support track.
11. A wiper blade, comprising: a primary member having a first end,
a second end, and an interior surface formed therein; first and
second secondary members, each secondary member being connected to
a respective one of the first end and the second end of the primary
member; and at least two joint springs, including first and second
joint springs, wherein each of the first end and the second end of
the primary member is provided with two protrusions, wherein each
of the first and second secondary members includes two arms, each
arm of each secondary member having a recess, and wherein the
recess of each arm of each secondary member engages a respective
protrusion of the primary member to hingedly connect the respective
secondary member to the primary member.
12. The wiper blade of claim 11, wherein the first and second
secondary members are hingedly connected to the primary member to
move relative to the primary member to accommodate a changing
curvature of a surface of a windshield.
13. The wiper blade of claim 11, wherein the primary member and
each secondary member are provided with respective wedge members,
and wherein the first and second joint springs are kept in place by
the respective wedge members of the primary member and the
respective secondary member.
14. The wiper blade of claim 12, further comprising first and
second tertiary members, each tertiary member being hingedly
connected to a respective one of the first and second secondary
members.
15. The wiper blade of claim 14, wherein the at least two joint
springs further comprise third and fourth joint springs, and
wherein the first joint spring extends from the primary member to
the first secondary member, the second joint spring extends from
the primary member to the second secondary member, the third joint
spring extends from the first secondary member to the first
tertiary member, and the fourth joint spring extends from the
second secondary member to the second tertiary member.
16. The wiper blade of claim 15, wherein the primary member, each
secondary member, and each tertiary member are provided with
respective wedge members, wherein the first and second joint
springs are kept in place by the respective wedge members of the
primary member and the respective secondary member, and wherein the
third and fourth joint springs are kept in place by the respective
wedge members of the respective secondary member and the respective
tertiary member.
17. The wiper blade of claim 16, wherein each joint spring is
configured to force a respective two of the primary member, the
secondary members and the tertiary members against a windshield to
accommodate a changing curvature of a surface of the
windshield.
18. The wiper blade of claim 11, wherein each protrusion of the
primary member is circular in cross-sectional shape.
19. The wiper blade of claim 11, further comprising at least one
claw member provided on a lower surface of the primary member and
at least one claw member provided on a lower surface of each
secondary member, wherein each claw member receives a wiping
element support track, and wherein a wiping element is attached to
the wiping element support track.
20. A wiper blade, comprising: a primary member having a first end,
a second end, and an interior surface formed therein; first and
second secondary members, each secondary member being connected to
a respective one of the first end and the second end of the primary
member; and at least two joint springs, including a first joint
spring extending between the primary member and the first secondary
member and a second joint spring extending between the primary
member and the second secondary member, wherein each of the first
end and the second end of the primary member is provided with two
protrusions, wherein each secondary member includes two arms, each
arm of each secondary member having a recess, wherein the recess of
each arm of each secondary member engages a respective protrusion
of the primary member, wherein the primary member and each
secondary member are provided with respective wedge members, and
wherein the first and second joint springs are kept in place by
respective wedge members of the primary member and the respective
secondary member.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.
119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/640,422, filed Mar.
8, 2018, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by
reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
[0002] Embodiments of the invention are directed generally to
windshield wiper blades usable with various wiper arms. More
particularly, the embodiments of the invention are directed to
wiper blades having segmented portions.
Description of the Related Art
[0003] Various types of wiper blades are available which utilize
respective adapters for connection of wiper blades to various wiper
arms of automobiles. Thus, a particular arm may be connectable to
wiper blades using the adapters.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] An embodiment of the invention is directed to a wiper blade
having multiple components, the wiper blade being used for removing
water and other deposits from an automotive windshield.
[0005] According to an embodiment of the invention, a wiper blade
includes a plurality of segmented portions, including a primary
member with an interior space formed in the primary member, and two
secondary members. Each secondary member has a first end and a
second end, the first end of a first secondary member being
connected to and received into the interior space of the primary
member at a first end of the primary member, the first end of a
second secondary member being connected to and received into the
interior space of the primary member at a second end of the primary
member opposite to the first end of the primary member. The
secondary parts may be hingedly connected to the primary member to
pivot, swivel and/or rotate relative to a longitudinal axis of the
primary member to accommodate a changing curvature of a surface of
a windshield based on pressure applied by the wiper arm against the
windshield.
[0006] The wiper blade may further include two tertiary members,
each tertiary member being connected to a secondary member at a
first end thereof and may be hingedly connected to the respective
secondary member to pivot, swivel and/or rotate relative to a
longitudinal axis of the secondary member to accommodate a changing
curvature of a surface of a windshield based on pressure by the
wiper arm applied against the windshield.
[0007] The wiper blade further includes a first joint spring fixed
to the interior of the primary member and fixed to an interior of
the first secondary member. The first joint spring extends across
the first secondary member and extends across the primary member
and fixes the first secondary member and the primary member to one
another. A second joint spring is fixed to the interior of the
primary member and is fixed to an interior of the second secondary
member. The second joint spring extends across the second secondary
member and across the primary member and fixes the second secondary
member and the primary member to one another.
[0008] The first and second joint springs are provided to the
interior of the primary member and the respective secondary members
and are kept in place by a plurality of wedge-shaped
overhangs/tabs. The primary member and each secondary member may be
provided with a plurality of wedge-shaped overhangs/tabs to hold a
respective joint spring in place.
[0009] Further, the first and second joint springs may be press-fit
into the respective interior portions of the primary member and the
secondary members. In addition, the first and second joint springs
may be placed/introduced into the respective interior portions of
the primary member and the secondary members by sliding the springs
along the length of a component to which it is being installed. For
instance, the first joint spring is slid into the interior of the
primary member along the length of the primary member and is slid
into the interior of the corresponding secondary member along the
length of the corresponding secondary member.
[0010] The wiper blade further includes a third joint spring fixed
to the interior of the first secondary member and fixed to an
interior of a first tertiary member. The third joint spring extends
across the first tertiary member and the first secondary member to
fix the first tertiary member to the first secondary member. A
fourth joint spring is fixed to the interior of the second
secondary member and fixed to an interior of a second tertiary
member. The fourth joint spring extends across the second secondary
member and second tertiary member and fixes the second secondary
member to the second tertiary member. The third and fourth joint
springs are provided to the interior of the respective secondary
members and tertiary members and are kept in place by a plurality
of wedge-shaped overhangs/tabs. The primary member and each
secondary member and each tertiary member may be provided with a
plurality of wedge-shaped overhangs/tabs to hold a respective joint
spring in place.
[0011] The third and fourth joint springs may be press-fit into the
respective interior portions of the secondary members and tertiary
members. In addition, the third and fourth joint springs may be
placed/introduced into the respective interior portions of the
member and the tertiary members by sliding the springs along the
length of the component to which it is being installed. For
instance, the first joint spring is slid into the interior of the
primary member along the length of the primary member and is slid
into the interior of the corresponding tertiary member along the
length of the corresponding tertiary member. The first, second,
third and fourth joint springs strengthen the movable connection of
the primary member to the secondary members, and the respective
secondary members to the respective tertiary members in the lateral
direction. Further, without the joint springs, the movable
connections would not have enough joint strength.
[0012] Further scope of applicability of the invention will become
apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However,
it should be understood that the detailed description and specific
examples, while indicating embodiments of the invention, are given
by way of illustration only, since various changes and
modifications within the scope of the invention will become
apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed
description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] The present invention will become more fully understood from
the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying
drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are
not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:
[0014] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the wiper blade
according to a first embodiment of the present invention, including
five frame components and four joint springs;
[0015] FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the primary member
according to the first embodiment of FIG. 1;
[0016] FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the secondary
member according to the first embodiment of FIG. 1;
[0017] FIG. 4 illustrates a top view of the wiper blade according
to the first embodiment;
[0018] FIG. 5 illustrates a side view of the wiper blade according
to the first embodiment;
[0019] FIG. 6 illustrates side cross-sectional view of the wiper
blade according to the first embodiment about plane VI-VI;
[0020] FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of the cross-section
of the wiper blade shown in FIG. 6 about plane VI-VI and including
a perspective view of a spring;
[0021] FIG. 8 illustrates an perspective view of the wiper blade
according to a second embodiment of the present invention,
including five frame components and two joint springs;
[0022] FIG. 9 illustrates a perspective view of the secondary
member of the wiper blade of FIG. 8, according to the second
embodiment of the present invention, that is shaped to receive a
joint throughout its length;
[0023] FIG. 10 illustrates a top view of the wiper blade according
to a second embodiment of the present invention;
[0024] FIG. 11 illustrates a side view of the wiper blade according
to second embodiment of the present invention;
[0025] FIG. 12 illustrates a side cross-sectional view of the wiper
blade according to the second embodiment about plane XII-XII;
[0026] FIG. 13 illustrates a perspective view of the cross-section
of the wiper blade shown in FIG. 12 about plane XII-XII;
[0027] FIG. 14 illustrates a top view of the wiper blade according
to a third embodiment of the present invention, including three
frame components and two joint springs;
[0028] FIG. 15 illustrates a side view of the wiper blade according
to the third embodiment of the present invention;
[0029] FIG. 16 illustrates a side cross-sectional view of the wiper
blade according to the third embodiment about plane XVI-XVI;
[0030] FIG. 17 illustrates a perspective of the cross-sectional
view of the wiper blade according to the third embodiment about
plane XVI-XVI;
[0031] FIG. 18 illustrates a wiper blade according to an embodiment
of the present invention including air holes along the top surface
thereof;
[0032] FIG. 19 illustrates a profile cross-sectional view of the
wiper blade according to FIG. 18 installed on a windshield; and
[0033] FIG. 20 illustrates a wiper blade having no holes on a top
portion thereof.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0034] The present invention will now be described with reference
to the accompanying drawings, wherein the same reference numerals
have been used to identify the same or similar elements throughout
the several views.
[0035] According to a first embodiment of the invention, as
illustrated in FIGS. 1-7, a wiper blade 100 includes a primary
member 10 with an interior space 16 formed therein, as illustrated
in FIG. 2, and two secondary members 20, 26. FIG. 1 illustrates an
exploded view of the wiper blade 100 to clearly show each of the
components. Each secondary member 20, 26 has a first end and a
second end, the first end of a first secondary member 20 being
connected to and received into the interior space 16 of the primary
member 10 at a first end of the primary member 10, the first end of
a second secondary member 26 being connected to and received into
the interior space of the primary member 10 at a second end of the
primary member 10 opposite to the first end of the primary member
10. The secondary members 20, 26 may be hingedly connected to the
primary member 10 to pivot, swivel and/or rotate relative to a
longitudinal axis of the primary member 10 to accommodate a
changing curvature of a surface of a windshield 110 based on
pressure applied by the wiper arm 1 against the windshield 110
(shown in FIG. 19).
[0036] The secondary members 20, 26 include arms 22 extending
outward along a longitudinal axis, each arm 22 including a recess
for engaging a respective protrusion 12 of primary member 10.
[0037] The wiper blade 100 may optionally include two tertiary
members 30, 36, each tertiary member 30, 36 being connected to a
secondary member 20, 26 at a first end thereof and may be hingedly
connected to the respective secondary member 20, 26 to pivot,
swivel and/or rotate relative to a longitudinal axis of the
secondary member 20, 26 to accommodate a changing curvature of a
surface of a windshield 110 based on pressure by the wiper blade
100 applied against the windshield 110. Further, each tertiary
member 30, 36 includes respective interior portions 34, as
illustrated in FIG. 7. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the
cross-section of the wiper blade 100 shown in FIG. 6 about plane
VI-VI and includes a perspective view of a joint spring 40.
[0038] The wiper blade 100 further includes four joint springs 40,
42, 46, 48. A first joint spring 40 is fixed to the interior 16 of
the primary member 10 and is fixed to an interior 24 of the first
secondary member 20. The first joint spring 40 extends across the
first secondary member 20 and extends across the primary member 10
and fixes the first secondary member 20 and the primary member 10
to one another.
[0039] A second joint spring 42 is fixed to the interior 16 of the
primary member 10 and is fixed to an interior 24 of the second
secondary member 26. The second joint spring 42 extends across the
second secondary member 26 and across the primary member 10 and
fixes the second secondary member 26 and the primary member 10 to
one another.
[0040] The first and second joint springs 40, 42 are provided to
the interior 16 of the primary member 10 and the respective
secondary members 20, 26 and are kept in place by a plurality of
wedge-shaped overhangs/tabs 18, 28, including wedge-shaped
overhangs/tabs 18 of the primary member 10 and wedge-shaped
overhangs/tabs 28 of the secondary member 20, 26, as illustrated in
FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG. 6 illustrates side cross-sectional view of the
wiper blade 100 according to the first embodiment about plane
VI-VI, including the wedge shaped overhangs/tabs 18, 28, 38 of the
respective member.
[0041] The wedge-shaped overhangs/tabs 18, 28, 38 are illustrated
with a hashed marking, and the primary member 10, each secondary
member 20, 26, and each tertiary member 30, 36 may be provided with
a plurality of wedge-shaped overhangs/tabs 18, 28, 38. The primary
member 10, each secondary member 20, 26 and each tertiary member
30, 36 may include one or more wedge-shaped overhangs/tabs 18, 28,
38.
[0042] The first and second joint springs 40, 42 may be press-fit
into the respective interior portions 16, 24 of the primary member
10 and the secondary members 20, 26. In addition, the first and
second joint springs 40, 42 may be placed/introduced into the
respective interior portions 16, 24 of the primary member 10 and
the secondary members 20, 26 by sliding the springs 40, 42 along
the length of the component to which it is being installed. For
instance, the first joint spring 40 is slid into the interior 16 of
the primary member 10 along the length of the primary member 10 and
is slid into the interior 24 of the first secondary member 20 along
the length of the first secondary member 20. Likewise, the second
joint spring 42 is slid into the interior 16 of the primary member
10 along the length of the primary member 10 and is slid into the
interior 24 of the second secondary member 26 along the length of
the second secondary member 26.
[0043] The wiper blade 100 further includes a third joint spring 46
fixed to the interior 24 of the first secondary member 20 and fixed
to an interior of a first tertiary member 30. The third joint
spring 46 extends across the first tertiary member 30 and the first
secondary member 20 to fix the first tertiary member 30 to the
first secondary member 20.
[0044] The wiper blade 100 further includes a fourth joint spring
48 fixed to the interior 24 of the second secondary member 26 and
fixed to an interior 34 of a second tertiary member 36. The fourth
joint spring 48 extends across the second secondary member 26 and
the second tertiary member 36 and fixes the second secondary member
26 to the second tertiary member 36.
[0045] The third and fourth joint springs 46, 48 are provided to
the interior of the respective secondary members 20, 26 and
tertiary members 30, 36 and are kept in place by a plurality of
wedge-shaped overhangs/tabs 28, 38. Each tertiary member 30, 36 may
be provided with a plurality of wedge-shaped overhangs/tabs 38.
Further, the third and fourth joint springs 46, 48 may be press-fit
into the respective interior portions 24, 34 of the respective
secondary member 20, 26 and the respective tertiary member 30, 36.
In addition, the third and fourth joint springs 46, 48 may be
placed/introduced into the respective interior portions 24, 34 of
the secondary member 20, 26 and the respective tertiary member 30,
36 by sliding the joint springs 46, 48 along the length of the
component to which the joint spring 46, 48 is being installed. For
instance, the third joint spring 46 is slid into the interior 24 of
the first secondary member 20 along the length of the first
secondary member 20 and the third joint spring 46 is slid into the
interior 34 of the first tertiary member 30 along the length of the
first tertiary member 30. Likewise, the fourth joint spring 48 is
slid into the interior 24 of the second secondary member 26 along
the length of the second secondary member 26 and the fourth joint
spring 46 is slid into the interior 34 of the second tertiary
member 36 along the length of the second tertiary member 36.
[0046] Each joint spring 40, 42, 46, 48 is pre-bent and provides a
downward force at the outer tip of the wiper blade assembly of each
joint. Each joint spring 40, 42, 46, 48 has a dual function, as it
is positioned within the interior of the respective component to
increase lateral stiffness of the blade construction, in addition
to providing the downward force.
[0047] The wiper blade 100 according to the first embodiment may
further include a plurality of claw elements 80 for receiving a
wiping element support track 50, and the primary member 10, each
secondary member 20, 26, and each tertiary member 30, 36 includes
at least one claw 80 to receive a respective portion of the wiping
element support track 50.
[0048] FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the primary member
10 according to the first embodiment. The primary member 10
includes a pair of cylindrical protrusions 12 at each end thereof,
as illustrated in FIG. 2, that connect to cylindrical recesses
provided in a respective arm 22 of the first end of the respective
secondary member 20, 26. The cylindrical protrusions 12 are
provided at an interior surface 16 of the primary member 10.
Further, the cylindrical protrusions 12 face each other and engage
a respective cylindrical recess of a respective arm 22. The
protrusions 12 could have an alternate shape, such as a
hemispherical shape, that corresponds to the respective recess of
the respective arm 22.
[0049] FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the secondary
member 20, 26 according to the first embodiment, and shows details
of a lower surface of the secondary member 20, 26. The details of
the lower surface include the interior surface 24 and the general
structure thereof. Each cylindrical recess of the secondary member
20, 26 is provided in a respective arm 22 that extends in a
lengthwise direction of the respective secondary member 20, 26, and
each arm 22 extends toward the primary member 10. Specifically,
each arm 22 extends towards a respective cylindrical protrusion 12
of the primary member 10.
[0050] The second end of each secondary member 20, 26 is provided
with a pair of cylindrical protrusions 23 that connect to
cylindrical recesses provided in an arm 32 of the first end of the
respective tertiary member 30, 36. The cylindrical protrusions 23
of the secondary member are similar to the cylindrical protrusions
12 of the primary member 10. The protrusions 23 could have an
alternate shape, such as a hemispherical shape, that corresponds to
the respective recess of the respective arm 32.
[0051] Each tertiary member 30, 36 is provided with arms 32, each
arm 32 having a cylindrical recess. Each arm 32 of the tertiary
member 30, 36 extends in a lengthwise direction of the respective
tertiary member 30, 36, and each arm 32 extends toward the
cylindrical protrusions 23 of the secondary member 20, 26.
[0052] Each of the tertiary members 30, 36 and/or secondary members
20, 26 include two arms 22, 32 which may be rectangular in shape or
have any other shape, having a spacing between them that is
marginally larger than a width of the respective joint spring 40,
42, 46, 48. Each of the arms 22, 32 has outward facing surfaces
provided with cylindrical recesses. The terminating end of the arm
22, 32 facing away from the respective component in the
longitudinal direction thereof has a full radius and the opposing
end has a radius that flows through the arms 22, 32 and forms one
end of the outward visible joint.
[0053] Each respective arm 22, 32 of each secondary member 20, 26
and each tertiary member 30, 36 includes a recess that engages a
respective protrusion 12, 23. This engagement may be a press-fit
connection, and it allows each secondary member 20, 26 to be
hingedly connected to the primary member 10, and allows each
tertiary member 30, 36 to be hingedly connected to the respective
secondary member 20, 26. Further, each protrusion 12, 23 of the
primary member 10 and the second members 20, 26 may have a
cylindrical shape that engages the respective cylindrical
recess.
[0054] The wiper blade 100 further includes a wiping
element/squeegee support track 50 having a first holder on an upper
member and a second holder on a lower member, an elastic element 60
seated within the first holder of the wiping element support track
50, and a wiping element/squeegee 70 seated within the second
holder of the wiping element/squeegee support track 50. Further,
the wiping element/squeegee support track 50 may include a spline
and vertebrae.
[0055] The tertiary members 30, 36 are each provided with an end
stop 55 to prohibit movement of the wiping element/squeegee support
track 50.
[0056] The primary member 10 may include at least two main claws
80, each secondary member 20, 26 may include at least one claw 80,
and each tertiary member may include at least one claw 80, each
claw 80 receiving a portion of the wiping element support track 50
therebetween.
[0057] The wiper blade 100 includes multi-blade frame components,
including the primary member 10, two secondary members 20, 26 and
optionally two tertiary members 30, 36, that allow the flexing and
retention of a wiping element 70. The wiper blade 300 of the third
embodiment is provided without tertiary members, however, the wiper
blade 100, 200, 300 in each disclosed embodiment may be provided
without tertiary members. In other words, the wiper blade 100, 200,
300 of the present invention may include a fewer or greater number
of joint springs 40, 42, 46, 48 and may be provided without
tertiary members, to include only a primary member 10 and two
secondary members 20, 26.
[0058] Each member is interlocked, having a pivoting joint via
joint springs 40, 42, 46, 48 and the pivoting connection between
the respective protrusions 12, 23 and the cylindrical recesses of
the components as described above. To provide a downward force at
an outer tip of the blade assembly, each joint has a flat pre-bent
joint spring 40, 42, 46, 48 placed internally. The joint spring 40,
42, 46, 48 has a dual function as the joint spring 40, 42, 46, 48
is positioned in such a way that the joint spring 40, 42, 46, 48
will add to the lateral stiffness of the blade construction in
addition to providing the downforce. Claws 80 facing the windshield
110 are used to retain a vertebra that also retains the wiping
element 70 and a spline, the spline may optionally include metal or
any other material used for splines.
[0059] Each of the primary member 10, the secondary members 20, 26
and the tertiary members 30, 36 may include reinforced polymer. The
vertebra may include a polymer material, or any other material
known for use in vertebras.
[0060] When placing the wiper blade 100, 200, 300 on a curved
windshield 110, the joint springs 40, 42, 46, 48 provide the force
needed to shape the primary member 10, secondary members 20, 26 and
tertiary members 30, 36 to the windshield 110. During operation,
the curvature of the windshield 110 changes, and the pivoting
joints allow for these shape changes and keep the wiping element 70
in contact with the windshield 110.
[0061] FIG. 4 illustrates a top view of the wiper blade 100
according to the first embodiment that is shown in a connected
state, and illustrates plane VI-VI. FIG. 7 illustrates a
perspective view of the cross-section of the wiper blade 100 shown
in FIG. 6 about plane XI-VI, shown in FIG. 4 and includes a
perspective view of a joint spring 40, 42, 46, 48.
[0062] FIG. 5 illustrates a side view of the wiper blade 100 in the
connected state shown in FIG. 4 according to the first
embodiment.
[0063] The joint between the secondary member 20, 26 and primary
member 10, and the joint between the secondary member 20, 26 and
the tertiary member 30, 36 has an opening with two cylindrical
protrusions 12, 23 facing toward the center of the part to form a
mating component with the cylindrical recesses of the arm 22, 32 of
the respective member.
[0064] By pushing each of the parts laterally together, the
cylindrical protrusions 12, 23 snap into the respective cylindrical
recesses forming a rotating joint between the two components,
including between the primary member 10 and the secondary members
20, 26, and between each secondary member 20, 26 and the respective
tertiary member 30, 36.
[0065] Each part has at its side, facing the windshield 110, a
pocket at an internal surface thereof to receive the joint spring
40, 42, 46, 48, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 7, 12, 13, 16 and 17. To
retain the joint spring 40, 42, 46, 48, a wedge shaped inwardly
facing overhang/tab 18, 28, 38 is added to each opposing sidewall
of the pocket where the widest distance forms a lead-in to assist
the joint spring 40, 42, 46, 48. The sidewalls are constructed to
allow deflection during assembly of the joint spring 40, 42, 46,
48.
[0066] The secondary members 20, 26 or the tertiary members 30, 36
are provided with a hole at an outboard end thereof to accommodate
an end stop 55 for limiting the travel of the wiping
element/squeegee support track 50. The end stop 55 is provided with
a head and a body. The head extends horizontally and the body
extends vertically so that the head and the body are generally
perpendicularly arranged with respect to each other, although other
angles are within the scope of this disclosure.
[0067] As illustrated in FIGS. 8-13, in accordance with a second
embodiment of the present invention, the wiper blade 200 includes
two joint springs 40, 42, each joint spring 40, 42 extending across
the primary member 10, a secondary member 20, 26, and a tertiary
member 30, 36 to allow for the wiper blade 200 to flexibly contact
the windshield 110. The joint springs 40, 42 of the second
embodiment work in the manner described with respect to the first
embodiment.
[0068] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the wiper blade 200
according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
9 is a perspective view of the secondary member 20, 26 of the wiper
blade 200 of FIG. 8, according to the second embodiment of the
present invention, that is shaped to receive a joint throughout its
length. In FIG. 8, the components of the wiper blade 200 are
exploded to show the structure of the various components, including
the primary member 10, the secondary members 20, 26, the tertiary
members 30, 36, the two springs 40, 42, the wiping element support
track 50, the elastic element 60, and the wiping element/squeegee
70.
[0069] Each of the two springs 40, 42 of the second embodiment
extend from an interior surface 34 of the respective tertiary
member 30, 36, through an interior surface 24 of the respective
secondary member 20, 26, and to an interior surface 16 of the
primary member 10. As stated above with respect to the first
embodiment, the springs 40, 42 may have a press-fit connection with
the respective interior portions 16, 24, 34. Therefore, the
interior surfaces 16, 24, 34 of primary member 10, each secondary
member 20, 26, and each tertiary member 30, 36 receives and is
fixed to the respective spring member 40, 42.
[0070] The secondary member 20, 26 according to the second
embodiment may be provided with an inner surface 24 that is
substantially continuous through the length of the secondary member
20, 26. A respective joint spring 40, 42 extends from the primary
member 10, through an entirety of the inner surface of the
secondary member 20, 26, and to the tertiary member 30, 36.
Alternatively, the wiper blade 200 may be provided without tertiary
members 30, 36 and each joint spring 40, 42 may extend only up to a
portion of the secondary members 20, 26 such as in the manner
illustrated in FIG. 14.
[0071] The second embodiment of the present invention utilizes only
two joint springs 40, 42, one in each half of the blade assembly.
This reduces the part count and improves assembly time. Each wiper
blade 200 assembly may have a dedicated set of joint springs 40, 42
to accommodate for different length requirements.
[0072] According to a third embodiment of the present invention, as
illustrated in FIGS. 14-17, the wiper blade 300 includes three
frame components and two joint springs 40, 42, with one joint
spring 40, 42 in each half of the assembly. This is most
advantageous for blades of smaller sizes, including blades less
than 20 inches in length. The three frame components include one
primary member 10 and two secondary members 20, 26. As provided
above, the joint springs 40, 42 may have a press-fit connection
with the respective frame component, and provide an elastic force
to the wiper blade 300 to allow the wiper blade 300 to follow the
curvature of the windshield 110. FIG. 14 is a top view of the wiper
blade 300 according to a third embodiment of the present invention,
and FIG. 15 is a side view that illustrates one primary member 10,
two secondary members 20, 26, and four claws 80. However, a fewer
or greater number of claws 80 may be provided.
[0073] FIG. 16 is a side cross-sectional view of the wiper blade
300 according to the third embodiment about plane XVI-XVI of the
wiper blade 300 illustrated in FIG. 14. FIGS. 16 and 17 illustrate
the wedge members 18, 28 of the primary member 10 and the secondary
members 20, 26 holding the respective joint spring 40, 42 in
place.
[0074] FIGS. 18 and 19 illustrate a top surface of the primary
member 10, the secondary members 20, 26, and the tertiary members
30, 36 being provided with holes 120 to provide a means of air flow
through the respective components. The shape and size of the holes
120 can vary to improve functionality, manufacturability, and
aesthetics.
[0075] Each of the primary member 10, the secondary members 20, 26
and the tertiary members 30, 36 has a cross-sectional profile that
forms a deflector for the air flowing, which is illustrated by the
arrows in FIG. 19 extending towards and over the wiper blade 100,
over the windshield 110 where at one position during a wipe cycle,
the wiper blade 100, according to the present invention will be
substantially perpendicular to this air flow. Further, the
cross-sectional profile of the primary member 10, the secondary
members 20, 26, and the tertiary members 30, 36 is symmetrical
about their respective longitudinal axes for providing the same air
deflecting properties in both directions of the wipe cycle.
[0076] The primary member 10 has the provision 19 in the center
area to selectively install one of two types of adapter holders
providing the means of installing a plurality of the most commonly
used wiper arms, as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 8, 10, 14 and 18.
The adapter holder is for connection to a windshield wiper arm. The
attachment adapter holder is detachably mounted to a top surface
the primary member via at least one connection tab and a protrusion
member. The primary member 10 includes holes/openings 14 to
accommodate installation of the attachment member, as known in the
art and as described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,145,111, dated Sep. 29,
2015 and U.S. Pat. No. 8,037,568 B2, dated Oct. 18, 2011, the
entire contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.
[0077] As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 8, 10, 14 and 18, the
center area provision 19 is provided with four openings 14, each
opening 14 receiving a protruding portion of the adapter holder for
fixing the adapter holder thereto, as known in the art and as
described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,145,111, and 8,037,568 B2, the entire
contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.
[0078] FIG. 20 illustrates the top surface of the primary member
10, each secondary member 20, 26 and each tertiary member 30, 36
provided without holes to enhance the aesthetics of the wiper blade
100, 200, 300.
[0079] The present invention being thus described, it will be
obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations
are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of
the present invention, and all such modifications as would be
obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included
within the scope of the following claims.
* * * * *